Each year, tens of thousands of people in Ireland undergo radiation therapy as part of their cancer treatment. A life-saving intervention, radiation therapy plays a vital role in improving survival. But for some, the effects of radiation don’t end with treatment.
Months or even years later, some people develop a delayed radiation injury (DRI ). This can present with ongoing pain, non-healing wounds, damage to bone, or bladder and bowel complications following pelvic radiation. DRIs can be distressing, particularly after everything already endured during cancer treatment.
These symptoms occur because radiation, while targeting cancer cells, can also damage surrounding healthy tissue. This damage interrupts the blood and oxygen supply to the treated area. Without adequate oxygen, the body’s ability to repair these tissues is limited.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT ) is a well-established, FDA-approved treatment for delayed radiation injury, including soft tissue and bone damage. HBOT involves breathing high-concentration oxygen in a specialised chamber. This increases the amount of oxygen reaching damaged tissues, supporting the formation of new blood vessels and allowing healing processes to resume.
HBOT is commonly used for conditions such as osteoradionecrosis of the jaw following head and neck cancer, radiation injuries to the chest wall, and tissue damage after prostate or gynaecological cancer treatment.
At OxyGeneration, care is provided in collaboration with oncology teams. Treatment is always part of a wider care plan, tailored to each individual. The clinic welcomes referrals from GPs and healthcare specialists.
If you have a radiation injury, call OxyGeneration in Galway on 091 394 444 or visit www.oxygeneration.com for more information on how HBOT could help your symptoms.
